CSTO permanent council discuss situation on Tajik-Afghan border

AKIPRESS.COM - The meeting of the permanent council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization was held under chairmanship of Tajikistan's representative Hasan Sultonov on July 7 in form of a videoconference.
Hasan Sultonov informed CSTO permanent council about the situation on the Tajik-Afghan border.
He said around 1,500 Afghan government troops crossed the border into Tajikistan for the last 2 weeks after clashes with Taliban fighters.
"President Emomali Rahmon held a meeting of the Security Council on July 5 in connection with a complex situation in Afghanistan. The President ordered Security Council members, heads of law enforcement, defense and security agencies to adopt concrete measures to ensure safety for the state and nation on the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan," Hasan Sultonov said.
Additional troops will be deployed to the Tajik-Afghan border. The President also ordered to pay a particular attention to prevention of crimes on the border, including prevention of transboundary crime, terrorism, extremism, illicit drug trafficking.
The Ministry of Defense of Tajikistan will mobilize 20,000 army reservists for further reinforcement of the border between Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
"Tajikistan, as the country with the longest border with Afghanistan, undertakes necessary actions to contain situation and counter threats and challenges emanating from this country. However, in view of the situation in the region and given that some sections of the border with Afghanistan are in hard to reach mountainous areas, it is difficult for Tajikistan to cope with this task alone. These circumstances require from us adequate response in the framework of CSTO, including adoption of measures on protection of our southern borders," Hasan Sultonov stated.